Statistic bill rules foreign researchers

Statistic bill rules foreign researchers

JAKARTA (JP): A new bill will require foreign research
institutions to form partnerships with local researchers before
they survey or publish statistics in Indonesia.

The National Development Planning Board's chairman Ginandjar
Kartasasmita told a House session on the statistics bill
yesterday that this requirement would benefit local
organizations.

"We could gain benefits in terms of technology, information
and profits from the partnerships," Ginandjar said.

He said partnerships could include the establishment of new
organizations.

"The bill does not specify the form of partnerships," he
added.

The government ordered the Central Bureau of Statistics to
draft the bill to ensure the reliability and intelligibility of
statistics produced and published in Indonesia.

Many published surveys have come under fire for creating
confusion by failing to inform the public of their shortcomings
or for using small samples.

The bill has also drawn much criticism, with some saying they
fear it could be used to stop polling and surveying by the
Independent Election Monitoring Committee.

The bill, if it becomes law, will require researchers who
produce and use statistics to report their work to the bureau.

Ginandjar said that 1993 Presidential Decree No. 100 required
all researchers to obtain written permits from the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences.

He said the ministry of home affairs also required all
partnerships with international agencies or organizations to
obtain permits from the ministry and the institute. (02)